SBK, Jerez test: the Rea/Razgatlioglu comparison is postponed

There is great expectation ahead of the final 2023 WorldSBK round but even more so with a view to 2024, which will immediately kick off next week with the first winter tests, taking place at the same Andalusian track.

 

Razgatlioglu conspicuous by his absence

Why? For one simple reason. All the riders will be out with their new teams (Rea at Yamaha, Bulega, Iannone and Lowes on the Ducatis, Redding with the Bonovo BMW, Bassani at Kawasaki), everyone except perhaps the most highly anticipated of all, or rather Toprak Razgatlioglu.

For reasons relating to his contract with Yamaha (his agreement runs until December and Yamaha has not given him the OK to test the BMW), the Turk will not take part in these tests and will have to wait for the January sessions to climb aboard his M1000RR, a situation similar to that of Rossi, when he switched from Honda to Yamaha in 2004.

Toprak’s absence from the first test will put him at an initial disadvantage and he’ll face a race against time during the January tests as he plays catch-up to his rivals, with all that that involves in terms of resolving potential issues with the bike.

 

Rea in the spotlight

With Bautista still on the V4R and no Razgatlioglu, it is of course Jonathan Rea who will be the focus of the post-race tests. Unlike Yamaha, Kawasaki is allowing its rider to test the R1 immediately after the race so that he doesn’t waste any time adapting it to his personal style, just as he’s done in recent years with the Akashi machine.

What can we expect then from this initial contact between Rea and the R1? This first test will allow the Northern Irishman to understand the direction in which to work on the bike, identifying a base setting that can then be adapted based on the six-time champion’s feeling and feedback.

This will be the goal on day one, the team and rider working to set up the bike as well as possible before pushing harder on day two and drawing conclusions with a view to subsequent test sessions.